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LARSON: DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET GOOD FOR CONNECTICUT AND AMERICA'S ARMED FORCES



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2003

LARSON: DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET GOOD FOR CONNECTICUT AND AMERICA'S ARMED FORCES

WASHINGTON, D.C.- This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass the 2004 Defense Appropriations bill, H.R. 2658, providing a total of $368.7 billion for America's armed forces. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) expects to vote in favor of the legislation should it remain in its current form, which includes funding for projects that are important to Connecticut's defense industry, including the F/A 22 Raptor, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and the C-17 Aircraft.

Larson stated: "I am pleased to see that this budget fully funds the President's defense appropriations requests for fiscal year 2004. This is a very strong budget in terms of meeting both our immediate and long-term military and national security needs. The defense programs that are critical to Connecticut and our armed forces are fully funded, which is good news for the state's defense industry and workforce."

The budget also includes funding for the following programs important to Connecticut:

  • $940 million for 38 Army Blackhawk helicopters
  • $3.6 billion for 22 F-22 Air Force fighter aircraft
  • $2.1 billion for 11 Air Force C-17 airlift aircraft
  • $11.5 billion for shipbuilding programs, which includes full funding the fiscal year 2004 request for one Virginia-class submarine, and two Trident SSGN conversions.
  • $1.1 billion for the Army's Comanche helicopter (Research and Development)
  • $4.2 billion for the Joint Strike Fighter (Research and Development)
  • $19.5 million for F-15 E-Kit upgrades
  • $2 million for Navy C-130 Electric Propeller Control System
  • $2 million for Universal FADEC electronic control systems for rotocraft
  • $1 million for advanced control technology
  • $5 million for Hydrogen/PEM ambient pressure fuel cell demonstration
  • $4 million for Hydrogen/PEM heavy duty vehicle demonstration

The legislation also includes a 4.1 percent pay raise for military personnel as well as funding to reduce the cost of military housing for servicemen and women.

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Congressman Larson is a Member of the House Armed Services Committee